QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER

Summer 2010, Issue 1

Benevolent

NGO

A note from the President

Welcome to the first issue of Syunik NGOs quarterly newsletter in honor of the organizations 15th anniversary. In an effort to provide up-to-date information regarding our activities, information about upcoming events and NGO news we are pleased to provide you with our newsletter. The newsletter will help us to keep in touch with you and present you all exciting developments that happen at our organization. Syunik NGO is one of the biggest non-governmental organization in southern Armenia. Since our foundation we have implemented various educational, social, cultural, youth and community development projects in cooperation with our partner organizations from around the world. We started from charitable work (soup kitchens, construction, provision of clothes and medicine) and continued in socio-economic work (education, health care, youth activities and camps, trainings, agricultural support, a wood workshop and a hydro power station) which is crucial to the development of local communities in southern Armenia. Our goal is to strengthen our local communities in order to ensure a dignified life for all people. Sincerely, Garik Shahgaldyan President

15th Anniversary Summer Fair

On June 26th, 2010 Syunik ensure that people in remote NGO held a summer fair to regions have a dignified life. celebrate its 15th anniversary Nara Harutyunyan, a at our Social Service Center management staff member in Yeghegnadzor. The local presented the history and and foreign staff members current projects of Syunik of Syunik NGO with the NGO. She specifically talkhelp of our Youth Bank ed about the organizations members organized the fair. projects, target communiRepresentatives from partties, and current partner ner organizations, local and organizations such as EED, national governmental and EPER/HEKS, U.S. Peace nongovernmental entities Corps-Armenia, HEIFER, and media were invited to International Armenian the celebration. In his greetDentists Association, EurThe Vayk dancing club performs a traditional Armenian dance. ing speech, Bishop Abraham asia Foundation, ACCRC Mkrtchyan, the chairman of Armenia, Fund for ArmeSyunik NGOs Board, welcomed everyone and briefly talked nian Relief, GTZ, CIM, US Embassy to Armenia, FPWC, about the mission of the organization, as well as about the Union of Ethnic Minorities, Union of Azeri Women, Laactivities and projects implemented during the 15 year his- zarus NGO, Jinishian Memorial Foundation. The role of tory of the organization. He congratulated everyone on our donor organizations was emphasized and a special gratitude 15th anniversary and talked about the organizations per- was extended to them for their continuous support and cospectives on how to further develop local communities and operation.

Chess club members compete against one another at the chess competition that was held at the Summer Fair.

Different groups from our SSCs in Jermuk, Vayk, and Yeghegnadzor performed various dance, songs, and poetry. Students and children were given the chance to show what they have learned during their time at our SSCs. The celebration also included an exhibition, providing visitors with an opportunity to see handicrafts, pictures and other creative works developed by students of the SSCs. Students competed with their peers from other communities in a chess competition, which was also a good way of developing a network. At the end of the ceremony summer fair participants enjoyed refreshments provided by the Yeghegnadzor Youth Bank branch and had an opportunity to meet NGO staff members and share comments. Overall, the summer fair was a success. It brought the community together and highlighted not only the importance of the projects implemented by Syunik NGO, but also the need of such projects in local communities.

Vayots Dzors new governor, German Ambassador visit

On August 5th Syunik NGO had an honor to host Sergey Bagratyan, the Vayots Dzor Governor and Hans-Jochen Schmidt, the German Ambassador to Armenia. They were accompanied with Christoph Breunig, German Deputy Ambassador to Armenia and Vanik Khudaverdyan, Deputy Chief of Staff. The Summer Academy was in progress at the time of their visit. The Summer Academy is one of our new initiatives that is funded by EED and implemented in cooperation with Gitelik University, the Branch of Economic University in Yeghegnadzor, ethnic minorities of Armenia and the Educational and Employment Center from Georgia. During their visit our guests also met Syunik NGOs staff members and consultants, which gave them an additional opportunity to learn more about our projects.

HEKS representatives visit

On July 30-31, Jens Engely, Desk Officer to the Caucasus and Nana Topuridze, Regional Director, from HEKS, one of our partner organizations, visited our office. They had meetings with staff members, as well as visited our summer camp. During their meeting with staff members, representatives discussed the new agricultural project that was approved for funding by HEKS. They also talked about the Summer Camps for Socially Vulnerable Children, which is another project funded by HEKS. At the childrens camp guests observed various activities including presentations prepared by camp participants. We are fortunate to have worked so closely with HEKS for the last several years as they are a major supporter of some of our most successful projects.

Vanik Khudaverdyan, Sergey Bagratyan and Bishop Abraham.

Jens Engely and Nara Harutyunyan

Making a difference through summer camps

Since its foundation in 1995 Syunik NGO has been imple- time for an opening ceremony of the summer camp for chilmenting various youth development projects in the Syunik dren from socially vulnerable families. The opening ceremoand Vayots Dzor regions. Organizing summer camps are ny was organized by the leaders and participants of the camp one such project that has already become an integral part who prepared various activities. Attendees enjoyed perforof the NGOs youth development initiatives. Summer camps mances, music and the campfire, which is traditionally a part are a unique opportunity for Armenian, Georgian, Azeri of the grand opening of the camp. Childrens happy faces and children from national miwere signs of appreciation of nority groups to spend their our summer camps. It was summer vacation in a friendly obvious that summer camps atmosphere, learn about the imindeed make a difference in portance of diversity and gain many childrens lives. knowledge and skills about the Summer camps are sponenvironment. These camps are sored by HEKS and implealso a way of promoting conmented in cooperation with flict awareness and effective Lazarus Charitable fund of peace-seeking behavior among Georgian Patriarchate, Union children coming from different of Azeri Women of Georgia, nationalities in order to develop The Armenian Dentist Assotolerance and create friendships ciation of California and the between them. Armenian Government. On July 8th, 2010 it was again A group of camp participants and leaders perform a song for the
opening ceremony.

Officials visit summer camp

On July 10, 2010 representatives from the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Armenia and from the Resource Center for Russian Language visited our camp. They extended greetings to camp participants and spent some time with them. The NGO closely collaborates with both entities and as a result of the cooperation the Russian Resource Center for Russian Language offers Russian language courses to those camp participants whose oral language skills need improvement. Sessions are free of charge and participation in sessions are voluntarily. ment in the diagnostic center. Armenian and American doctors work at the clinic. The ADAoC provides supplies for the clinic. Providing dental care to children from socially vulnerable families is one of our priorities because the cost of dental care is very high and it is not affordable for many families.

Gifts for the children

At the end of the first shitf of our summer camp children received gifts provided by Syunik NGO, the Armenian Dentist Association of Californa and the Resource Center for Russian Language. Giving presents to children at the end of each shift is another way of motivating and supporting children from socially vulnerable families. Syunik NGOs gratitude goes to the administrative staff of the Resource Center for Russian Language for their contributions to the camp, as well as to those individuals and organizations whose donations make it possible to provide children with gifts.

Camp participants recieve dental care

Our camps provide participants with an opportunity to get a dental checkup and treatment free of charge while in camp. There is a dental clinic and a diagnostic center at the camp established by the Armenian Dentists Association of California, one of our longterm partners. All participants get a checkup and treat-

Summer Academy, our new initiative

Our new initiative, a Summer ment in Yerevan worked with the Academy called Our Future is in students during the summer acadSustainable Environmental Develemy. Participants received certifiopment, was launched in sumcates at the end of the project. A mer 2010 in Syuniks Siranuysh web page for the Summer Acadcamp facilities. emy is under development, which University students from Arwill provide more information on menia, Georgia and ethnic mithis project and a forum for stunorities came together to reflect dents all over the world to share on the issue of global warming their ideas, opinions and concerns and climate change through regarding environmental issues. theoretical and practical activiThe Summer Academy is fundties. During their 21 days toed by EED and implemented by gether, students had training on Syunik NGO in cooperation with Lusik Karapetyan and Ani Harutyunyan the relevant topics, conducted Gitelik University, the Branch of collaboarate on a presentation. research and presented their Economic University in Yeghegfindings in the form of articles and presentations. A trainer nadzor, ethnic minorities of Armenia and the Educational from Arahus Environmental Center conducted training ses- and Employment Center from Georgia. sions and leaders from the Acopian Center for the Environ-

GTZ provides manuals for Summer Academy

The Deutsche Gesellschaft fr Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ), one of Syunik NGOs partner organizations, recently published its Manual for the Training of Teachers on Biodiversity of Rivers and Streamlets in Armenia. The organization donated 70 (50 Armenian and 20 English) copies of the manual. We distributed copies to our Summer Academy participants who explored various environmental issues within the courses. Syunik NGOs gratitude goes to GTZ for its valuable contribution and continuous collaboration.

German Summer Academy

This year DAAD Summer Academy for students of German language in Armenia was organized in Syuniks Syranush camp facilities. DAAD, the German Academic Exchange Service which conducts summer camps every year, partnered with Syunik NGO to implement its 2010 Summer Academy for university students from all over Armenia. The academy consisted of five workshops that aimed to improve participants German language skills. The collaboration was initiated by Franziska Neumann-Lehmann, who is an independent German volunteer at Gitelik University in Yeghegnadzor. The project was also supported by the Robert Bosch Foundation and Gitelik University.

Promoting gender equality in Armenia

resentatives and the international community in Armenia including ambassadors, foreign staff members and volunteers attended the opening. GTZ-Armenia country director James Macbeth welcomed the attendees and briefly introduced the background of the exhibition and how volunteers Hendrikje Alpermann, Emily Haas, and Paige Prince initiated the project in the Vayots Dzor region. Hans-Jochen Schmidt, German ambassador to Armenia, extended his greetings to attendees and expressed his appreciation of Syunik NGOs contributions to the exhibition. Representatives from the Armenian government also congratulated GTZ and Syunik NGO for the opening of the exhibition and briefly shared their perspectives on gender equality in Armenia. At the end of the opening ceremony attendees enjoyed refreshments and had an opportunity to look at the portraits and read the stories of Armenian women included in the exhibition.

Siranush Soromonyan, 85 years old, Village Areni. Photo by Emily Haas

In recent years gender equality has gained more and more attention in former Soviet Union countries including Armenia. Many organizations promote gender equality in Armenia by implementing various initiatives. One of such initiatives was the Women in Armenia exhibition held by the GTZ Armenia office in cooperation with Syunik NGO. The opening of the exhibition was held at the GTZ office in Yerevan on July 19th, 2010. The exhibition consisted of portraits and stories of inspirational Armenian women from the Vayots Dzor region and Yerevan. The majority of portraits were taken and stories were written by our American and German volunteers who are actively involved in various community development projects implemented by Syunik NGO. The Women in Armenia exhibition aimed to stimulate a discussion on gender equality and womens rights in Armenia. Members of the Armenian government, NGOs, media rep-

From the left, Emily Haas, Paige Prince, Hans-Jochen Schmidt, Hendrikje Alpermann, Gayane Yenogyan, Vanessa Boas, James Macbeth and Alla Aghabekyan.

Syunik NGO starts a new agricultural project

In August we started a new agricultural project titled Em- ters will be established. powered and self-sustained communities. The project is funded The project is currently in its preparation phase, which by HEKS-EPER and is being implemented in seven rural includes recruiting personnel, assisting farmers in forming communities in the Vayots Dzor an informal group, purchasing region, Getap, Chiva, Qaraglukh, agricultural machinery and iniTaratumb, Rind, Areni, and Hertiating collaboration with pomon. tential partners. The first trainThe main purpose of the projing of farmers has already been ect is to empower the target comconducted. Several topics were munities and enable them to becovered in the training such as come self-sustainable so as to team work, project planning provide a dignified life for their and management, nursery plancitizens. Within this project a ning, seedling and cutting senursery, mini-park for agricultural lection, seed purveyance and machinery, bio humus production Mamikon Hovhanisyan conducts the first round of seminars for post-harvest seed maturation and agricultural consultancy cenand seed disinfection. farmers.

Professional development for staff members

Syunik NGO recognizes development work, made conthe importance of profesclusions, learned about the difsional development activities ferences between result-based for its staff members. The and impact-based evaluation organization ensures that its and tried to find out ways of staff members are involved measuring impact and customin continuous professional er satisfaction. The second day development activities either participants were given an opinternally or externally in orportunity to discuss urban and der to be informed about rural community development best practices and trends in concepts, what an ideal comdevelopment, have an opmunity could be, what are some portunity to reflect on their lessons learned so far and some experiences and improve fuideas for a community developture steps. ment program. The last day of Ingo Mller In August, Ingo Mller, the workshop conflict related Syunik NGOs senior contopics were addressed, as well sultant, was invited to conduct a three-day workshop for our as follow up and future activities. The three-day workshop staff members. The Workshop for Conceptual Reflection was an excellent opportunity for our staff members to come and Development consisted of three major topics, develop- together and reflect on their experiences, current activities ment work, community development and conflict. In the first and discuss the future direction of the NGO. day of the workshop participants discussed some trends in

Syunik NGO welcomes new personnel

Meaghan Tessmann Nara Martirosyan Sebastian Mllner

In August 2010 a new Peace Corps volunteer joined the Syunik NGO team. Meaghan is a Community Business Development IT volunteer. She has strong educational and professional background in IT and web design. Meaghan will particularly assist in updating our web site. She will conduct web design and will enhance young staff members computer skills.

In June 2010 Nara Martirosyan resumed her career at Syunik NGO after finishing her graduate studies (both masters and doctoral) in Education in the United States. In addition to her studies she worked in various capacities at the university where she studied, which allowed her to obtain additional knowledge and skills that will be utilized at Syunik NGO. Currently Nara is in charge of international and public relations at Syunik NGO.

In August 2010 Sebastian Mllner, our new EED volunteer joined the Syunik NGO team. Sebastian will work with us for one year. He is interested in IT and the social services offered by Syunik NGO. Sebastian will provide assistance to staff members in various projects, as well as will be directly involved in various activities.

Syunik NGOs ongoing projects

Development Program of South Armenia
The main purpose of this project is to allow the people of the Vayots Dzor region to participate actively in social development in their communities and to have access to basic social services. Within the project our Social Service Centers have already been established in Yeghegnadzor, Vayk and Jermuk. Duration - Three years, 2009-2012 Donor - EED

Empowered and self-sustained communities

See the article Syunik NGO starts a new agricultural project for more information about this project. Duration - Two and a half years, July 2010 December 2012 Donor - HEKS-EPER

Youth Bank
The goal of this project is to increase youth participation in community development by building their practical project implementation skills, as well as applying these skills in real-life situations to produce tangible change in their communities. Duration - Ongoing project, 2009 - present Donor - The Eurasia Partnership Foundation , Community Foundation of Northern Ireland, Jinishian Memorial Foundation and USAID

Summer Holidays for Socially Vulnerable Children

See the article Making a difference through summer camps for more inforamtion about the project. Duration - Three years, 2009-2011 Donor - HEKS EPER

Summer Academy
See the article Summer Academy, our new initiative for more inforamtion about the project. Duration - Summer 2010 Donor - EED

Youth Information Centers

The main objective of this project is to improve young peoples access to information and communication and provide a positive environment for young people. We have established YICs in Yeghegnadzor, Vayk and Jermuk. Duration - One year, 2009-2010 Donor - U.S. Democracy Fund

Job Club
This projects aims to contribute to poverty reduction in the Vayots Dzor region by supporting local unemployed individuals in job seeking activities and promoting gender equality. Duration - One year, 2010-2011 Partner - GTZ

Beekeeping to support education

The main objective of this project is to assist families from the Vayots Dzor region to raise their income in order to be able to pay their childrens university tuition fees. These families must be Gitelik Universitys students families who experience financial hardship. Duration - One year, 2010-2011 Donor - HEIFER International
Nara Martirosyan Office of International & Public Affairs Syunik Benevolent NGO
Benevolent NGO

Tel/Fax: +374 (0281) 24009 Email: oipa.syunikngo@yahoo.com www.syunikngo.am

Momiki St. 5, 3601 Yeghegnadzor, Vayots Dzor Province, Republic of Armenia

Newsletter design by Emily Haas, logo design by Meag Tessmann, U.S. Peace Corps Volunteers.